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The Ordinary vs Shiseido

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

The Ordinary and Shiseido are two distinct skincare brands offering thoughtful selections of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. The Canadian line relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, whereas the Japanese house is beloved for formulas anchored by glycerin. Both suit sensitive skin best, while the North American label also fits dry skin and the heritage brand suits mature skin. They differ primarily in their approaches, pairing clinical ingredient concentrations with straightforward routines or blending meticulous craftsmanship with gentle daily care.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Shiseido is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.com

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Shiseido products

People Say

The OrdinaryShiseido
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Skin feels more hydrated — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Texture Smoothing and Improvement Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “smoothes rough skin — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Radiance and Brightening Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
    • “Eyes look more awake — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Luxurious Texture Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Velvety, rich cream texture — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Velvety texture — Shiseido FUTURE SOLUTION LX”
  • Lightweight Texture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
    • “Sinks right into the skin — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • High Price Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Fragrance and Scent Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Pilling and Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “slightly tacky — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “A little too much (too greasy) — Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Stinging and Irritation Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Caused some irritation — Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream”
    • “caused red bumpy rash — Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam”
    • “caused red rash — Shiseido Treatment Softener”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Shiseido: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value with superior routine fit across skin types, while Shiseido provides more luxurious textures and deep hydration. The Ordinary is less likely to cause irritation as every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas most Shiseido products contain fragrance.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Shiseido?

The Ordinary provides products on this page that generally fit skin types with a Superior rating, whereas Shiseido products on this page fit them with a High rating. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers better value and price, while Shiseido delivers deeper hydration and more luxurious textures.

The Ordinary or Shiseido for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while Shiseido has an Average fit. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, whereas 15 of 20 Shiseido products list fragrance.

The Ordinary or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for cleansers because the products on this page achieve a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Shiseido cleansers often present risks like dryness or irritation with a Caution or Warning rating for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Shiseido?

The Ordinary is more affordable and offers better value, whereas reviewers frequently note Shiseido's high price point.

Between The Ordinary and Shiseido, which brand is better for reducing dark spots?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dark spots, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Shiseido's High fit. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the fragrance options differ between The Ordinary and Shiseido products?

Every product by The Ordinary listed on this page contains no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, most Shiseido products on this page include added fragrance, with only 5 out of 20 listing no fragrance.

Which brand performs better for texture smoothing and skin improvement?

The Ordinary performs better for texture smoothing and skin improvement because reviewers often mention its texture-smoothing and acne-clearing serums, and its routine fit is Superior across most skin types.

The Ordinary or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, whereas Shiseido provides a High fit on the products on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation and soothe skin.

Antioxidants, 2021The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for moisturizers on this page, offering superior fit levels for dry skin compared to Shiseido's average fit. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient across The Ordinary products, helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Shiseido offers a High fit. The Ordinary features acne-clearing serums on its page, while Shiseido includes products with added fragrance.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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